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The British School

RESUMEN DE LOS CAMBIOS DE FORMATO DE LOS EXÁMENES OFICIALES DE INGLÉS DE CAMBRIDGE Y TRINITY

(en inglés)

Septiembre de 2015

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EQUIVALENCY CHART FOR TRINITY & CAMBRIDGE EXAMS

NIVEL MECR

CAMBRIDGE TRINITY ISE TRINITY GESE (oral)

C2 CPE ISE IV C2 12

C1 CAE ISE III C1.2 11 C1.1 10

B2

FCE

ISE II

B2.3 9 B2.2 8

B2.1 7 B1 PET ISE I B1.2 6

B1.1 5

A2 KET ISE FOUNDATION

A2.2 4 A2.1 3

A1 STARTERS A1 2 BEGINNER 1

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CAMBRIDGE EXAMS (Revised edition 2015)

PRELIMINARY ENGLISH TEST (PET) CONTENT (No changes in the revised exam)

Part / timing / % Content

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READING AND WRITING

1 hour 30 minutes

50% of total mark

READING

Part 1 5 multiple choice questions about short discrete texts: signs, messages, postcards, notes...

Part 2 5 matching questions. Five items in the form of descriptions of people to match to texts.

Part 3 10 true/false questions. Ten items with an adapted-authentic long text.

Part 4 5 multiple choice questions. Five items with an adapted-authentic long text.

Part 5 10 multiple-choice cloze. Ten items with an adapted-authentic text.

WRITING

Part 1 5 sentence transformation questions.

Part 2 1 short communicative message.35-45 words writing in the form of a post-card, e-mail etc...

Part 3 1 longer piece of writing. 100 words informal letter or story.

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LISTENING

30 minutes

25% of total mark

Part 1 7 multiple choice questions. Seven short dialogues /seven 3 option multiple-choice visual items.

Part 2 6 multiple choice questions. Longer monologue or interview/ six 3 option multiple-choice items.

Part 3 6 gap-fill questions. Longer monologue/Six gaps to fill in/One or more words in each space.

Part 4 6 True/false questions. Longer informational monologue.

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SPEAKING

10-12 minutes

25% of total mark

Part 1 Each candidate interacts with the interlocutor. Giving information of a factual, personal kind.(2-3min)

Part 2 Simulated situation. Candidates interact with each other. Discussion with visual stimulus.(2-3 min)

Part 3 Extended turn. Each candidate talks about a picture for a minute. (3 min)

Part 4 General conversation. Candidates talk together about their opinions, likes/dislikes, preferences etc...

(3 min)

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CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH: FIRST CERTIFICATE (FCE) CONTENTS (Revised edition 2015)

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READING AND

USE OF ENGLISH

1hour 15 min

40 % of total mark

Part 1 8 multiple choice questions about a modified cloze test containing 8 gaps.

Part 2 Modified cloze test containing 8 gaps corresponding to a word, the stem is given and the word must be changed

Part 3 A text containing 8 gaps.

Part 4 6 separate questions, each with a lead-in sentence and a gapped second sentence to be completed into 5 words

Part 5 A text followed by 6 multiple-choice questions.

Part 6 A text from which 6 sentences have been removed and placed in jumbled order.

Part 7 A text or several short texts, preceded by 10 multiple-matching questions.

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WRITING

1 hour 20 min

20% of total mark

Part 1 One compulsory question. Writing an essay. Agreeing or disagreeing with a statement, giving information, giving

opinion, giving reasons, comparing and contrasting ideas, drawing a conclusion.140-190 words

Part 2 One task to be selected from a choice of three. Writing one of the following: an article, an informal or formal e-

mail or letter, a report, a review. 140-190 words.

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LISTENING

40 min

20% of total mark

Part 1 8 multiple-choice questions about unrelated monologues.

Part 2 10 sentence completion tasks about a monologue.

Part 3 5 multiple-matching questions about five short related monologues.

Part 4 7 multiple-choice questions about an interview

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SPEAKING

14 min

20% of total mark

Part 1 A conversation between the interlocutor and each candidate.

Part 2 An individual long turn for each candidate followed by a response from the second candidate.(visual and written

stimuli)

Part 3 A Two-way conversation between the candidates (written stimuli and spoken instructions

Part 4 A discussion on topics related to part 3

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CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH: ADVANCED (CAE) Revised edition 2015

1

READING AND

USE OF ENGLISH

1hour 30 min

40 % of total

mark

Part 1 8 multiple choice questions about a modified cloze test containing 8 gaps.

Part 2 A text containing 8 gaps.

Part 3 Modified cloze test containing 8 gaps corresponding to a word, the stem is given and the word must be changed

Part 4 6 questions, each with a lead-in sentence and a gapped second sentence to be completed in 3-6 words.

Part 5 A text followed by 6 multiple-choice questions.

Part 6 4 short texts followed by four cross-text multiple matching questions.

Part 7 A text from which 6 paragraphs have been removed and placed in jumbled order.

Part 8 A text or several short texts, preceded by 10 multiple-matching questions.

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WRITING

1 hour 20 min

20% of total mark

Part 1 One compulsory question. Writing an essay. Agreeing or disagreeing with a statement, giving information, giving opinion,

giving reasons, comparing and contrasting ideas, drawing a conclusion.140-190 words

Part 2 One task to be selected from a choice of three. Writing one of the following: an article, an informal or formal e-mail

or letter, a report, a review. 140-190 words.

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LISTENING

40 min

20% of total mark

Part 1 Three short extracts or exchanges between interacting speakers.2 multiple choice questions for each extract.

Part 2 8 sentence completion tasks about a monologue.

Part 3 6 multiple-choice questions about a text involving interactive speakers

Part 4 10 multiple-matching questions about five short themed monologues.

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SPEAKING

15 min

20% of total mark

Part 1 A conversation between the interlocutor and each candidate.

Part 2 An individual long turn for each candidate followed by a response from the second candidate.(visual and written

stimuli)

Part 3 A Two-way conversation between the candidates(written stimuli and spoken instructions)

Part 4 A discussion on topics related to part 3

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REVISED VERSION OF ISE TRINITY (from September 2015)

MAIN CHANGES

The Portfolio task has been removed (advisable as extended writing practice for the classroom).

A Listening part has been included.

There are two independent modules which can be paid and taken together or separately: 1. Reading and writing 2. Listening &

speaking.

READING AND WRITING EXAM

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LISTENING AND SPEAKING EXAM

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ISE FOUNDATION (former ISE 0) SUMMARY

Reading & Writing 2 HOURS

Task 1 — Long reading

One text. About 300 words.15 questions. There are three types of question:

◗◗ questions 1–5 — choose the right heading for each paragraph of the reading text

◗◗ questions 6–10 — decide which five statements from a list of eight are true according to the text

◗◗ questions 11–15 — complete sentences with words from the reading text.

Task 2 — Multi-text reading

Three short texts. In total, the three texts are about 300 words. One of the texts is a graphic or diagram with some short text.

15 questions. There are three types of question:

◗◗ questions 16–20 — choose which text matches a description — there are five questions which describe the main idea or purpose of the texts

◗◗ questions 21–25 — decide which five statements from a list of eight are true according to the texts

◗◗ questions 26–30 — complete summary notes with words from the texts (you choose the words from a list) — the notes are a summary of the three

texts.

Task 3 — Reading into writing

Using the three texts from task 2.Writing an essay or article. 70–100 words.

Task 4 — Extended writing

Writing an essay, article, letter or email in response to a question. 70–100 words.

Speaking & Listening (12 min) The Speaking & Listening exam is a one-to-one interview with a Trinity examiner.

The exam is in three parts:

1. Topic task (4 minutes) 2. Conversation task (2 minutes)

3. Independent listening task (6 minutes). In this part of the exam there are two tasks:

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Task 1 (2 minutes 15 seconds). You listen to a recording twice and write letters on a diagram. Task 2 (3 minutes 45 seconds). You listen twice to a

recording and take some notes on paper. You then talk to the examiner about the facts and information you heard in the recording. After this, the

examiner asks you some questions about the recording.

ISE I SUMMARY

Reading & Writing (2 HOURS)

Task 1 — Long reading

One text. About 400 words. 15 questions. There are three types of question:

◗◗ questions 1–5 — choose the right heading for each paragraph of the reading text

◗◗ questions 6–10 — decide which five statements from a list of eight are true according to the text

◗◗ questions 11–15 — complete sentences with words from the reading text.

Task 2 — Multi-text reading

Four short texts. In total, the four texts are about 400 words. One of the texts is a graphic or diagram with some short text.

15 questions. There are three types of question:

◗◗ questions 16–20 — choose which text matches a description — there are five questions which describe the main idea or purpose of the texts

◗◗ questions 21–25 — decide which five statements from a list of eight are true according to the texts

◗◗ questions 26–30 — complete summary notes with words from the texts (you choose the words from a list) — the notes are a summary of the three

texts.

Task 3 — Reading into writing

Using the three texts from task 2.Writing an essay or article. 100-130 words.

Task 4 — Extended writing

Writing an essay, article, letter, review or email in response to a question. 100-130 words.

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Speaking & Listening 13 min. The Speaking & Listening exam is a one-to-one interview with a Trinity examiner.

The exam is in three parts:

1. Topic task (4 minutes) 2.Conversation task (2 minutes)

3. Independent listening task (7 minutes). In this part of the exam there are two tasks:

Task 1 (2 minutes 15 seconds). You listen to a recording twice and write letters on a diagram. Task 2 (3 minutes 45 seconds). You listen twice to a

recording and take some notes on paper. You then talk to the examiner about the facts and information you heard in the recording. After this, the

examiner asks you some questions about the recording.

ISE II SUMMARY

Reading & Writing 2 HOURS

Task 1 — Long reading

One text. About 500 words. 15 questions. There are three types of question:

◗◗ questions 1–5 — choose the right heading for each paragraph of the reading text

◗◗ questions 6–10 — decide which five statements from a list of eight are true according to the text

◗◗ questions 11–15 — complete sentences with words from the reading text.

Task 2 — Multi-text reading

Four short texts. In total, the four texts are about 300 words. One of the texts is a graphic or diagram with some short text.

15 questions. There are three types of question:

◗◗ questions 16–20 — choose which text matches a description — there are five questions which describe the main idea or purpose of the texts

◗◗ questions 21–25 — decide which five statements from a list of eight are true according to the texts

◗◗ questions 26–30 — complete summary notes with words from the texts (you choose the words from a list) — the notes are a summary of the three

texts.

Task 3 — Reading into writing

Using the three texts from task 2.Writing an essay or article. 150-80 words.

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Task 4 — Extended writing

Writing an essay, article, letter, review or email in response to a question. 150-180 words.

Speaking & Listening 18 min The Speaking & Listening exam is a one-to-one interview with a Trinity examiner.

The exam is in four parts:

1. Topic task (4 minutes) 2. Collaborative task (4min) 3. Conversation task (2 minutes)

4. Independent listening task (8 minutes). In this part of there is one task: You listen to a recording twice and take some notes on paper. You then

talk to the examiner about the facts and information you heard in the recording. After this, the examiner asks you some questions about the

recording.

ISE III SUMMARY

Reading & Writing 2 HOURS

Task 1 — Long reading

One text. About 700 words. 15 questions. There are three types of question:

◗◗ questions 1–5 — choose the right heading for each paragraph of the reading text

◗◗ questions 6–10 — decide which five statements from a list of eight are true according to the text

◗◗ questions 11–15 — complete sentences with words from the reading text.

Task 2 — Multi-text reading

Four short texts. In total, the four texts are about 700 words. One of the texts is a graphic or diagram with some short text.

15 questions. There are three types of question:

◗◗ questions 16–20 — choose which text matches a description — there are five questions which describe the main idea or purpose of the texts

◗◗ questions 21–25 — decide which five statements from a list of eight are true according to the texts

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◗◗ questions 26–30 — complete summary notes with words from the texts (you choose the words from a list) — the notes are a summary of the three

texts.

Task 3 — Reading into writing

Using the three texts from task 2. Writing an essay or article. 200-300 words.

Task 4 — Extended writing

Writing an essay, article, letter, review or email in response to a question. 200-300 words.

Speaking & Listening (23 min) The Speaking & Listening exam is a one-to-one interview with a Trinity examiner.

The exam is in four parts:

1. Topic task (8 minutes) 2. Collaborative task (4 minutes) 3. Conversation task (3 minutes)

4. Independent listening task (8 minutes). In this part of there is one task: You listen to a recording twice and take some notes on paper. You then

talk to the examiner about the facts and information you heard in the recording. After this, the examiner asks you some questions about the

recording.

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Fuentes de información para este resumen: http://www.trinitycollege.com/site/?id=263 y http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/